Son Heung-min Scores in the Shootout! Can MLS’s Third-Place LAFC Book a Leagues Cup Quarterfinal Spot?

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Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC Standings: One Penalty Kick Changed LAFC’s Fate

The 90 minutes of regular time could not separate the two sides. LAFC and Querétaro battled to a tense 1-1 draw, leaving the fate of the quarterfinal race to be decided in a penalty shootout. And in the end, LAFC had the last laugh with a 5-3 victory.

This result was about more than simply “winning a penalty shootout.” From the perspective of the Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC standings, that one crucial kick revived LAFC’s chances of surviving in the Leagues Cup.

After playing the full 90 minutes, Son Heung-min stepped up as LAFC’s second penalty taker and calmly found the back of the net. Although he did not score from open play, his successful penalty at the moment of greatest pressure played an important role in helping LAFC secure two points along with the shootout victory.

Across their previous three matches, LAFC earned two points from a shootout win over Guadalajara, three points from a regulation-time victory over Toluca, and another two points from a shootout win over Querétaro. That gives them a total of seven points.

• Against Guadalajara: 1-1 draw followed by a shootout win → 2 points
• Against Toluca: 1-0 regulation-time win → 3 points
• Against Querétaro: 1-1 draw followed by a 5-3 shootout win → 2 points

As a result, LAFC climbed to third place among the 18 MLS teams in Leagues Cup Phase One. Their record is listed as one win and two draws, but securing both penalty shootouts was the key to their rise into the top four.

However, nothing has been fully decided yet. With only the top four teams advancing to the quarterfinals, LAFC’s final position could improve—or they could be pushed out of fourth place—depending on the results of Austin FC and Chicago Fire’s final matches.

Still, one fact is undeniable. Without the two points earned from the Querétaro shootout, LAFC’s quarterfinal hopes would have been far more difficult. Son Heung-min’s composed penalty, along with the team’s unwavering focus throughout the shootout, lifted LAFC into their current third-place position.

The 1–1 Drama Completed at Son Heung-min’s Feet: A Turning Point in the Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC Standings

There were no goals from open play. But when the pressure was at its peak, Son Heung-min did not waver. After LAFC and Querétaro FC remained locked at 1–1 through regular time, Son stepped up as the second penalty taker and found the back of the net. That single, composed finish was more than just a goal—it was the moment that changed LAFC’s fate in the tournament.

In the final Phase One match of the Leagues Cup at BMO Stadium, LAFC and Querétaro could not be separated easily. The match ended 1–1 in regular time, and after neither side backed down, the contest went to a penalty shootout. In cup competitions, penalty shootouts are stages where psychological strength matters just as much as technique. The result of this match was especially significant, as it was directly tied to LAFC’s race to reach the quarterfinals.

Son maintained his concentration even after playing the full 90 minutes. Standing over the penalty spot as LAFC’s second taker, he calmly converted his kick and gave his team a sense of stability. LAFC went on to defeat Querétaro 5–3 in the shootout.

The result was also a pivotal moment in assessing the Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC standings. A victory in regular time would have earned LAFC three points, but the shootout win still secured two valuable points. Thanks to those two points against Querétaro, LAFC reached seven points from three Phase One matches and climbed to third among the 18 MLS teams.

The 90 minutes that had appeared destined to end in a draw were ultimately recorded as an LAFC victory. And at the heart of that victory was Son Heung-min’s finishing touch—quietly, yet decisively, fulfilling his role when it mattered most.

Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC Standings: The Secret Behind 7 Points and How Draws Lifted LAFC into the Top Tier

LAFC’s Phase One record stands at 1 win and 2 draws. Looking only at the numbers, it may not seem like a dominant record. However, in the Leagues Cup, a draw at the end of regular time is not the end of the story. The outcome of the penalty shootout determines who earns the additional point.

LAFC went unbeaten across all three matches and won both of its penalty shootouts. This “unbeaten approach” resulted in 7 points and third place among the 18 MLS teams.

Opponent	Regular-Time Result	Penalty Shootout	Points Earned
Guadalajara	1-1	LAFC won 5-4	2 points
Toluca	LAFC won 1-0	N/A	3 points
Querétaro	1-1	LAFC won 5-3	2 points
Total	1 win, 2 draws	2 shootout wins	7 points

The Leagues Cup points system is straightforward. A win in regular time is worth 3 points, a shootout win after a draw in regular time is worth 2 points, and a shootout loss is worth 1 point. In other words, LAFC secured 2 points from each of the two matches that could have ended as draws by winning both penalty shootouts.

The final match against Querétaro was especially important to understanding the Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC standings. After the match ended 1-1 in regular time, LAFC missed the chance to earn 3 points. But by winning the shootout 5-3, the team secured at least 2 points. Son Heung-min also stepped up as the second taker and calmly converted his penalty, helping LAFC secure those points.

Ultimately, LAFC’s 7 points are more than simply the result of “1 win and 2 draws.” They reflect an unbeaten run against Liga MX teams and a team that stayed composed whenever the pressure was at its highest. The combination of one regular-time victory and two shootout wins lifted LAFC to third among the 18 MLS clubs in the group.

Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC Standings: Why Third Place Is No Guarantee

The key point in the Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC standings is clear: LAFC earned two points after drawing 1–1 in regulation and winning 5–3 in the penalty shootout against Querétaro. They currently sit third among the 18 MLS teams with 7 points.

However, this third-place position is not yet secure. In Leagues Cup Phase One, only the top four teams advance directly to the quarterfinals based on their MLS records, meaning the standings could shift dramatically depending on the results of just one or two matches.

Why 7 Points Can Hardly Be Considered Safe

LAFC has completed all three of its matches and can no longer add to its point total. Austin FC and Chicago Fire, meanwhile, each have 6 points and one final match remaining.

• A regulation-time win for either Austin FC or Chicago Fire would give them 9 points
• Even a shootout win would put them on 8 points
• If both teams overtake LAFC, the club could fall from its current third-place position to fifth or lower

In other words, LAFC’s 7 points are by no means a poor result, but with rival teams still having matches to play, they are hardly enough to provide any breathing room.

The “Waiting Period” Created by Son Heung-min’s Shootout Goal

Son Heung-min’s successful penalty as LAFC’s second taker against Querétaro secured two crucial points for the club. Had LAFC lost the shootout, it would have been left with just 6 points, putting its quarterfinal hopes in a far more difficult position.

That said, a regulation-time victory would have earned LAFC 3 points, bringing its total to 8. The draw against Querétaro ultimately turned LAFC into a team that is third—but still forced to wait.

In the end, LAFC’s qualification for the quarterfinals now depends on the results of Austin FC and Chicago Fire’s final matches. LAFC may currently be third in the standings, but the final verdict has yet to be delivered.

The Battle for an Automatic Quarterfinal Berth Continues After the Win: What the Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC Standings Mean

The match ended the moment LAFC defeated Querétaro, but LAFC’s Leagues Cup journey is far from settled. After a 1–1 draw in regulation, LAFC won 5–3 on penalties. Taking the second spot in the shootout, Son Heung-min calmly converted his kick and delivered two decisive points for his team.

As a result, the key takeaway from the Los Angeles FC vs. Querétaro FC standings is LAFC’s surge up the table. LAFC collected seven points across its three Phase One matches—one regulation-time win and two wins after penalty shootouts following draws—and moved into a provisional third place among the 18 MLS teams. A direct path to the quarterfinals, reserved for the top four teams, is now within reach.

But “provisional third place” and “a confirmed quarterfinal berth” are entirely different things.

The Remaining Variables in the Standings

Austin FC and Chicago Fire, who have played fewer matches than LAFC, currently have six points each. Depending on the results of their final matches, LAFC could hold its position—or fall outside the top four.

• If Austin or Chicago fails to secure points: LAFC’s chances of remaining in the top four will increase.
• If both teams achieve favorable results: Even LAFC, with seven points, could be pushed down in the standings.
• The key variable: The final outcome may be influenced not only by total points, but also by the detailed tiebreakers applied under the tournament rules.

In other words, the penalty-shootout victory over Querétaro was more than just a win in a single match. A regulation-time victory would have earned LAFC three points, but the two points secured through the shootout were still a decisive achievement that lifted the club into third place.

The Competitive Edge of a ‘Tournament Team’—Bolstered by Son Heung-min

LAFC defeated Guadalajara and Querétaro in penalty shootouts, while also earning a regulation-time victory over Toluca. Going unbeaten in all three matches against Liga MX teams shows that this side does not easily waver under the pressure of a short, high-stakes competition.

Son Heung-min’s impact, in particular, cannot be judged by his scoring record alone. Although he did not score a field goal against Querétaro, he executed his role perfectly in the shootout. That one kick became two points, and those two points formed the foundation of LAFC’s hopes of reaching the quarterfinals.

The pattern LAFC has shown is clear:

Even when things do not go according to plan in regulation, this is a team that can still produce a result.

That is the defining trait of a “tournament team.” In knockout competitions, concentration in decisive moments—such as penalty shootouts—and the ability to secure results in difficult situations are just as important as spectacular performances. LAFC proved exactly that ability in Phase One.

The Value of Third Place—and the Wait That Remains

LAFC currently stands on the threshold of the quarterfinals. To open the door, however, the club must wait and watch the results of its competitors. Whether the provisional third place created by Son Heung-min’s penalty will become a ticket to the quarterfinals—or turn into a disappointing drop in the standings—has yet to be decided.

Even so, the Querétaro match delivered an important message to LAFC. The team did not collapse under pressure, remained unbeaten against Liga MX clubs, and secured points at the moment they were needed most. Now LAFC’s focus is clear: hold on to provisional third place, advance directly to the quarterfinals, and continue the fight for the Leagues Cup title.